The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 8 July 1857, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, July 8. A somewhat clumsy blunder in a paragraph of our last issue calls upon us 'for correction, and at the same time elicits same new facts with regard to the boating interest. Boats and boatmen occupy the high road of our commerce, and consequently their state and proceedings will engage the attention of all interested in the commercial welfare of the province. We must first correct our erroneous statements. In place of ' potatoes' it should have been said that ' produce,' meaning grain of all sorts, was henceforward to be°conveyed at lower rates frofH the river. But this statement is denied, and we have handed to us the following list of charges for freight which are said to be now enforced by all the river craft: —From the Quay to Lyttelton ; wool, 12s. 6d. per bale ; potatoes, 255. per ton; grain, 6d. per bushel ; bran and sharps, sd. per bushel. From the Ferry to Lyttelton freights are 15 to 20 per cent lower. Now we know it to be true that Messrs. Gould and Miles, of Christchurch, have been abie to ship from the Quay round to Port about 1,100 bushels of wheat at 4d. per bushel, thus making the whole freight to Wellington Is. The fact of the reduction having been made to this extent is sufficient for us, let the nominal rates be as they may; for the lower figure is established as the one at which it pays the boatmen, and the public will quickly insist upon the reduction throughout. Now, we are far from antagonistic to the boatmen. It is not a part of our business to regulate charges, nor is it in our power' to reduce or raise them. We are content to chronicle and to advise. And it is with the desire to advise to the best of our power that we proceed to make a remark or two on the above facts. In the early days goods were carried from the port to the Quay for 20s. per ton, though no back freight offered. When back freight began to offer, it was brought to port at 10s. per ton. Flour was then double the present price, and all other provisions were very dear. The rates now are 255. per ton to the Quay, and outwards 6s. per bushel for grain. That is to say, when the farmer cannot afford to pay so much, and the boatman can afford to take less, freights are raised. This is a most unnatural course of proceeding. It is plain that our farmers have every reason to desire a change.

And we think that our boatmen also would be none the worse for the lower charges. Setting aside any prejudice arising from this cause which may prevent commiseration by the public when steam is introduced (wnieli will occur in the course of eighteen months), we will put. it to the boatmen and all concerned in the trade with Lyttelton whether it is not their interest to take such freights as will make it worth the while* of shippers to use their means of conveyance in preference to direct transmission from the river to Wellington. Shippers and producers will of course take the cheapest route. Carriage round to port has some advantages, but, without diminished rates of freight, the river and port boat owners and boatmen do not put themselves in a position to compete with the traders to another market.

We repeat that we are able neither to fix a limit for charges nor to compel boatmen to1 adopt it. We cannot help, however, commenting upon the facts elicited by our lucky blunder. We foresee that when a firm which paj s large inward freights is able to compel moderate freights qutwards, the public at large, which is in the same position, will do the same thing-. We confidentially advise our friend|ifQe^s>a^lie;ji to look to it. If any one:«6f:tHerri sees that it is plainly to the interest of his pocket to reduce his charges, let. him do so without fear. But a unanimous step by the whole body to meet the demands of the public will, we are sure, bring its own reward.